Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation (formerly Sheila Y. Oliver Civic Association) hosted its second annual Sheila Y. Oliver Legacy Brunch on Saturday.
The event celebrated the extraordinary life and legacy of the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver and celebrated influential New Jersey women leaders.
Held at the Valley Regency in Clifton and over 350 guests across government, business, and community organizing came together. Proceeds from the event will directly support the foundation’s mission to empower underserved communities and cultivate the next generation of women leaders in government, public policy, and community organizing.
“Each of today’s nine awardees is being recognized for leading with the kind of integrity, compassion, and tenacity that Sheila so deeply admired and modeled every day,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Your work carries forward her mission to deliver lasting progress, and it proves that Sheila’s legacy isn’t behind us–it’s alive and well in the work still shaping New Jersey today.”
Actress, singer, and comedian Tisha Campbell delivered a powerful keynote address that drew on her New Jersey roots.
“I am a proud daughter of Newark,” Campbell said. “I grew up in a time where our city was a completely underserved city. But our amazing city, with its amazing people, had a secret weapon. We had leaders like Sheila Oliver who fought tirelessly for us. She was a true trailblazer for us, whose courage, vision, and commitment to public service inspired her constituents and communities.”
Essex County Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas kept the program moving with grace and enthusiasm as Mistress of Ceremonies.
The following honorees were awarded for their extraordinary work in their communities, carrying forward Sheila Y. Oliver’s legacy of compassionate action:
- Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (D-35) | New Jersey General Assembly
- Linda J. Schwimmer, JD | President and Chief Executive Officer, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute
- Estina Baker | Democratic Strategist
- Tai Cooper | Chief Community Development Officer, NJEDA
- Dr. Barbara Gaba | President, Atlantic Cape Community College
- Dr. Pamela B. Jones | Chief Executive Officer, Communities In Cooperation, Inc.
- Sara Peña | Director of External Affairs, PSEG
- Dr. Cynthia Samuel | School Health Consultant, National Association of School Nurses
- Monica Slater Stokes | Managing Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, United Airlines
During the program, the organization announced its official rebrand to Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation, reflecting its evolution and long-term vision.
“This rebrand reflects who we are today–a growing, evolving force for civic engagement, community empowerment, and leadership development,” Renee Oliver, president of the Sheila Y. Oliver Foundation and the niece of Sheila Y. Oliver said. “This event is about looking back on Sheila Y. Oliver’s extraordinary impact and imagining the future we can build together, in her honor.”
The event also featured live entertainment, a tribute video honoring Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver’s legacy, and recognition of the 2025 Rutgers University-Newark Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America student interns and the 2025 Lincoln University Sheila Oliver Memorial Scholarship recipient.
